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3.30pm Update: Schoolgirl killed in crash in Witney named locally as Liberty Baker

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by Mark McKay, Reporter covering Headington and Marston. Call me on (01865) 425411

THE girl killed when a car ran off the road in Witney and struck her and three others has been named locally as Liberty Baker.

Witnesses rushed to help the stricken victims after a blue Citroen C2 is believed to have mounted the kerb in Curbridge Road in Witney shortly after 8am this morning, striking three 14-year-old girls and a man.

Miss Baker, who attended The Henry Box School, died after she was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The three other victims were also taken to the hospital.

The Witney MP tweeted: Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron has appealed for witnesses to come forward after the crash.

He tweeted: “My thoughts are with friends and family of the 14-year-old girl killed by a car in Witney this morning.

“Witnesses should call police on 101.”

The Henry Box School’s Year 11 prom tonight has been cancelled as a result of the death.

Wendy Hemmingsley, headteacher of The Henry Box School, issued a statement which said: "With deep regret I have to report that a Year 9 student was involved in a fatal traffic incident this morning in Witney.

"The school community is deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time. Support is being offered to students and staff."

Pc Phil Hanham, of Bicester roads policing, said: "We would like to thank them for all their help at what must have been a very distressing time.

"It would have been very distressing for the members of the public who saw or came to help.

"It's a very sad day when there are three young girls and a man in a collision with a vehicle."

One of the surviving girls is believed to have serious head injuries, while the man is thought to have suffered a broken hip.

The man arrested is believed to be 18.

The force's LPA Commander Kath Lowe added: "This is a tragic incident and as part of the West Oxfordshire community ourselves I and all my officers share the grief of all those touched by this event."

Curbridge Road is closed in both directions after the collision, which took place between Church View Road and the A415 Tower Hill roundabout at Ducklington Lane.

Police expect they may be able to open soon after they complete their investigations.

Curbridge Road resident Michael Harper, 84, said: "I did not hear a bang or anything like that, but I looked out my window and saw the blue lights flashing by.

"There were about half a dozen cars with their lights flashing.

"It's a shock, it's not something you expect to see first thing in the morning."

Valerie Shurey, 62, of Curbridge Road, said: "It's terrible. It's a very busy road, especially with the children going to school."

John Webb, 51, Curbridge Road, said: "It was chaos. There were cars, about four ambulances and the air ambulance.

"No one could get through, there were alot of peole everywhere."

Witney’s St Mary’s Church, on Church Green, will be open for prayer.

Curate Reverend Alastair Blaine said: “We will be responsive to what the community needs.

“We will be here for prayer and for people to leave their own thoughts and prayers on a notice board and to light a candle.

“There will be people here as long as the church is open.”

Initially it had been reported by police at the scene the girls were 12 but it has been confirmed by the force they are 14.

An air ambulance landed at the scene, police confirmed, but the schoolgirls and the man injured were taken to hospital by land ambulance.

Don't make assumptions that you don't know about; I was a witness and I believe that no one should assume things that are ill-informed. Only have your opinions and sympathies for the girl who died, thank you very much.

Don't make assumptions that you don't know about; I was a witness and I believe that no one should assume things that are ill-informed. Only have your opinions and sympathies for the girl who died, thank you very much.RIPLiberty

We have a tragedy like this that will affect the lives of many people, and all Stagecoach cares about is that it's buses will have to be diverted, caring sharing Stagecoach. My thoughts are with all those affected by this mornings events.

We have a tragedy like this that will affect the lives of many people, and all Stagecoach cares about is that it's buses will have to be diverted, caring sharing Stagecoach. My thoughts are with all those affected by this mornings events.The New Private Eye

Newprivateeye, are you a bit simple? Stagecoach were using the news report as a way of letting their customers know that they wouldn't be able to stick to their normal route. It is actually very good of them to do so and to make alternative arrangements for residents of Burwell who need the busses.
I'm pretty **** sure that everyone at Stagecoach is as saddened by the loss of Liberty as we all are.

Newprivateeye, are you a bit simple? Stagecoach were using the news report as a way of letting their customers know that they wouldn't be able to stick to their normal route. It is actually very good of them to do so and to make alternative arrangements for residents of Burwell who need the busses.
I'm pretty **** sure that everyone at Stagecoach is as saddened by the loss of Liberty as we all are.AlbertTatlock

The ins and outs of Stagecoaches decision are purely a side issue. A young girl has lost her life, that is very serious and permanent. The detail of a bus route being changed is very small fry by comparison. Due to Curbridge road being closed and traffic diverted through Burwell Farm it was a welcome decision probably suggested by the police to assist the majority of road users. Burwell was still served by small buses and Carterton still had a service. The narrow mindedness of the beef over Stagecoach shows shear lack of reasoning, respect and mature appreciation of view of the bigger issue.
Seeing this young girl grow up, play with her friends, walk by your house, say hello as she passes, are all things that we have to treasure now. Think of what her parents are going through and will continue to go through every day for the rest of their lives. Things like this are life changing for those left behind, and really ?????? who cares if Stagecoach didn't run a bus ????? tomorrow they will, and tomorrow the sun will rise and set as usual, but one lovely young girl will not be here to see it. We all walk a narrow path in this life, and then we are gone. Think about it.

The ins and outs of Stagecoaches decision are purely a side issue. A young girl has lost her life, that is very serious and permanent. The detail of a bus route being changed is very small fry by comparison. Due to Curbridge road being closed and traffic diverted through Burwell Farm it was a welcome decision probably suggested by the police to assist the majority of road users. Burwell was still served by small buses and Carterton still had a service. The narrow mindedness of the beef over Stagecoach shows shear lack of reasoning, respect and mature appreciation of view of the bigger issue.
Seeing this young girl grow up, play with her friends, walk by your house, say hello as she passes, are all things that we have to treasure now. Think of what her parents are going through and will continue to go through every day for the rest of their lives. Things like this are life changing for those left behind, and really ?????? who cares if Stagecoach didn't run a bus ????? tomorrow they will, and tomorrow the sun will rise and set as usual, but one lovely young girl will not be here to see it. We all walk a narrow path in this life, and then we are gone. Think about it.the wizard

I believe that others were seriously injured at the same time, perhaps we should all be sparing some time to think of those, evidently a young girl had what was described as serious head injuries, another had a broken hip and a man had a broken pelvis. These injuries are complicated by the addition of shock and also the awareness that something else very terrible was happening at the time. I send my best wishes to those people and their families in turn and I hope they all completely recover from their injuries and the events of this most terrible day.

I believe that others were seriously injured at the same time, perhaps we should all be sparing some time to think of those, evidently a young girl had what was described as serious head injuries, another had a broken hip and a man had a broken pelvis. These injuries are complicated by the addition of shock and also the awareness that something else very terrible was happening at the time. I send my best wishes to those people and their families in turn and I hope they all completely recover from their injuries and the events of this most terrible day.the wizard

This is certainly a very sad day for Witney. Liberty's passing has touched the whole community. The flowers and emotional messages left on the roadside are upsetting to read. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this tragic time. I also send my best wishes to those still in hospital recovering from today's incident. RIP Liberty. Taken so young.

This is certainly a very sad day for Witney. Liberty's passing has touched the whole community. The flowers and emotional messages left on the roadside are upsetting to read. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this tragic time. I also send my best wishes to those still in hospital recovering from today's incident. RIP Liberty. Taken so young.Liam_Walker

bowlerc67 wrote:
Stop changing the subject......please have respect......only comment on the subject!!!!!!!!

I don't see anybody changing the subject. The whole affair is worse than tragic. Tonight some are still in the JR and one young girl very ill, very ill indeed and they were all part of the same group walking so innocently to school. It is one subject. I attended the scene this evening, the out pouring of emotion and heart felt grief was enormous. Some people were coming from their homes as families, some stopping on their way home from work. Others who didn't know her but had heard of the tragic event came to pay their respects. One guy came in his truck, stopped and laid flowers and then went, tears in his eyes. people need to understand the shear gravity of what has happened here. I'm sure it is yet to really sink in, and tomorrow there will be an empty desk at school. You really do need to examine the consequences of the events that unfolded this morning. It is one tragedy, one event, one subject.

[quote][p][bold]bowlerc67[/bold] wrote:
Stop changing the subject......please have respect......only comment on the subject!!!!!!!![/p][/quote]I don't see anybody changing the subject. The whole affair is worse than tragic. Tonight some are still in the JR and one young girl very ill, very ill indeed and they were all part of the same group walking so innocently to school. It is one subject. I attended the scene this evening, the out pouring of emotion and heart felt grief was enormous. Some people were coming from their homes as families, some stopping on their way home from work. Others who didn't know her but had heard of the tragic event came to pay their respects. One guy came in his truck, stopped and laid flowers and then went, tears in his eyes. people need to understand the shear gravity of what has happened here. I'm sure it is yet to really sink in, and tomorrow there will be an empty desk at school. You really do need to examine the consequences of the events that unfolded this morning. It is one tragedy, one event, one subject.the wizard